Different
Ministries
John’s main
ministry is helping with the ETBIL program (church-based theological education)
in Central America and in Honduras. This
involves encouragement, stimulating, some help in the teaching, or rather
facilitating, of courses, and translation of material.
However,
there are other ministries in which both John and Lise get involved.
Evangelistic Campaign in
Guatemala
From March
14th to March 24th, Tony Anthony and his team will be
busy morning, afternoon, and most evenings, in schools, churches, prisons and
parks, in a 12-day evangelistic campaign, in which on of our churches in Quebec
is involved. John will be the interpreter for this campaign. We would very much
appreciate your prayers for health for all involved during this time, and that
the Holy Spirit will convict hearts. John would particularly appreciate your
prayers that he will remain alert all during that time, so that he will be able
to translate effectively.
Medical Brigades
Iglesia
Bautista Hermon, the church where we attend, has a medical clinic that serves
patients at very low cost, and occasionally free of charge when necessary. Every
three months the doctor and nurse, along with a group from our church, spend a
Saturday in some remote mountain village that has little access to medical
help. They bring clothing, free medicines, and free medical advice. There are
always a large number of people who come out for medical help. Lise is an
important part of that team, serving as an “assistant pharmacist” (the nurse
serves as “chief pharmacist”). Lise has been impressed by the tremendous
poverty on the one hand, and the doctor’s compassion on the other.
AWANA
As mentioned
in a former post, this year Lise is in charge of the “cubbies” group in our
church AWANA every Saturday afternoon. She has two trainees with her, which
frees her up for other ministry such as the medical brigade when necessary. Three
of the children in her group come from the children’s Home where our daughter, Melodie
works.
Sunday School
Lise also co-teaches
a Sunday School class in the church, and she and Sandra have one trainee with them. Training others to take up the baton is an
important part of the ministry of the church.
Preaching
John does
occasional supply preaching. He is the speaker on the last Friday of the month
for the church men’s group (changing with someone else when he has to travel),
preaches occasionally on Sundays when needed, and has been asked to preach in
another church, once for a baptism and another time to encourage that church to
get on board with the First Principles program. John has been very happy to see three of his Homiletics students preach in the context of the men's group.
First Principles
It has been
exciting to see pastor Hector start a group in the church to follow the First
Principles program here. There are twelve disciples following it, and have
started with a bang, everyone doing their preparation very well.
Muki
Yes, for
better or worse, we have adopted a cute little Siberian Husky. He is now all of
three months old, and is growing rapidly. We thought for a while that we were
going to lose him to an intestinal problem, but it has all worked out. His
name, Muki, means “sweet and gentle” in Slovenian. But he can get into mischief!
